Fire waive tryout winner Pantazopoulos

Defender Pari Pantazopoulos, who earned a berth with the Chicago Fire through an open tryout in 2011, was waived Sunday. (Brian Cassella/Tribune Photo)

Defender Pari Pantazopoulos, who earned a berth with the Chicago Fire through an open tryout in 2011, was waived Sunday.

Pantazopoulos made only one competitive appearance for Fire. He played 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory over the Rochester Rhinos in the third round of the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

A native of Athens who lived in Hoffman Estates and rooted for the Fire as a youth, Pantazopoulos won an open tryout in January of 2011. He impressed team brass enough to stick around through several more weeks of training before earning a roster spot last March.

Pantazopoulis' release brings the Fire's active roster to 29 as the team closes in on Saturday's MLS season opener in Montreal. Two draft picks -- Lucky Mkosana and Tony Walls -- remain unsigned.